NFL Build UP: Scouting Report: Clare

Looking through the Clare team ahead of Sunday
and while they will be formidable they are no world beaters either!

STAR MENGary Brennan is Clare’s equivalent to PK minus the all-star award. Actually, they had some excellent battles in the inter-provincials over the years!
He’s a bear of a man and links up with his brother Shane in at full forward very well too.
He’ll be a real handful driving forward he’ll look to throw his weight about and bully our midfield….nice test for Eoin O’Connor but I reckon Bevan will look to tag him all afternoon.
Bevan will need to be disciplined but if he competes and limits Brennans influence in general play his job will go along way in Louth winning on Sunday.
Gally will also have to do his best to kick the ball away from Brennan all Sunday afternoon.

David Tubridy scored 10 points against Wexford…7 free’s and 3 from play.
On his day he’s one of the best in Munster and thats some going with Kerry, Tipp and Cork’s forward lines at the moment.

He’ll punish us if we concede the same amount of soft free’s like we did against Fermanagh and in general play he’ll be their liveliest inside forward.
Pop will pick him up…thats why he’s selected at cornerback and its a good move.
Keep him quiet and there early season confidence away from home could slowly drift away..

THE DUB Connection
Pat Burke scored 1-2 on his debut last weekend so he will be in flying form and he’s been round the block winning a All-Ireland club with Kilmacud and actually played against Louth for Dublin 2013!
McGrath on the otherhand from Thomas Davis played for Dublin in 2010 before joining up with Clare in 2012.

Their ability certainly improves the Clare set up and team and Shows the strength of Dublin Club football
it also poses the question….could we do it??

HOW THEY PLAY
They set up like majority of teams in Ireland have a half forward line that drops very deep.

On the forty, Shane Hickey would have played most of his football at wing or corner back but when he was minor and he played in the forwards for his club Kilmurry Ibrickane. who reached an All-Irleand club in 2010

The other Clare half forwards Sean Collins and Dub McGrath tend to drop deep when they don’t have the ball and then try and break with pace if they turnover possession.

This will suit Dessie, Crilly and O’Hanlon and who will look to play a more traditional half back role and sit instead of dropping down the field and exposing our fullback line.

INJURIES
Podge Collins of Clare hurling fame is injured thank god because he’s possibly a better footballer than hurler just look at this goal he scored for his club!

Otherwise their first choice fullback Kevin Hartnett went off injured in the warm up last week. Hopefully Conor Grimes can test their replacement.

Scouting Verdict
After hearing the Wexford result I was really worried about Sunday’s game.
However after looking at Clare’s team and how we match up with them,
I feel much more confident and I actually think we can get something out of this game.

I Really do. bring it!

Match Preview up tomorrow!!
thanks for reading all week and if you cant make the game sunday follow the LIVE Match Feed here.